Learn to Adopt:
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“My mission, I think, is I was put here to nurture kids. I’ve always had kids in my life and they didn’t have to come from me. I just need kids. That’s what I’m here to do.”
Prospective Adoptive Parent, Contra Costa County"During training, the most helpful part was the panelists of parents. You ask one question and you get four different answers and perspectives. It also helped to hear the personal stories of the adoptive parents and understanding where the kids are coming from, understanding the situation they may be coming from."
Prospective Adoptive Parent, Contra Costa County
Where to Start
The process of becoming an adoptive parent begins with your county. The first step: you must attend an orientation session held by your county’s Department of Social Services. After the orientation session, you will need to get a foster parent license before you can adopt via your county.
While this website is full of great advice and information that every current and prospective adoptive parent uses, we only provide specific information for the following California counties:
The Process – Step by Step
1. Contact your county’s Department of Social Services to review their orientation schedule. You must attend an orientation to learn more about the adoption process.
2. Attend an orientation. At orientation, which is usually a 2 – 3 hour session, you will learn more about adoption, and how you must first become a licensed foster parent before you can adopt via your county. You’ll also receive information about foster parent training, which is the mandatory training people need to complete in order to receive a foster parent license. (Clicking on the county links above will take you to the pages where you’ll find that county’s orientation schedule.)
3. Complete a training class. These classes are run by the county you live in and successful completion is mandatory before getting your foster parent license. The courses are spread out over a number of weeknights, or Saturdays. Most parents who attend enjoy the in-person, upfront approach and make valuable connections with other people going through the process.
4. Complete an application. This will require personal and demographic information about you and other members of your household. In some counties you will receive the application packet after you complete training. In other cases, you receive it at orientation. As part of the application process, you will be required to take a tuberculosis (TB) test at a local health center. All members of your household over 18 will be fingerprinted and will have their criminal records checked.
5. Meet with a caseworker. Once you’ve completed the application, the agency or Department of Social Services will assign a caseworker to work closely with you throughout the remainder of the process.
6. Complete a home study. A home study measures your family’s ability to become foster or adoptive parents. In developing the home study, a caseworker (also known as a social worker) meets with prospective parents several times, visits the home to inspect the accommodations and check for safety features, and does a criminal record check on family members.
7. Keep in contact. Once you’ve been licensed, you will continue to have contact with your caseworker until an adoptive placement is made.
8. Placement of a child. The licensing process can take 4 - 6 months from the time of application to completion, and often depends on a family’s motivation and follow-though. After you obtain a license, the agency will attempt to match your skills, qualifications, and preferences to the needs of an available child. This is key. It is not just a matter of a child being available but also a matter of determining the suitability of the child to your home. Depending on the availability of appropriate children, placement may be made immediately or, in some instances, not for several months.
